A North Liberty man, who was convicted of sexually abusing a boy over a year or so when the boy was 5 or 6 years old, was sentenced to 80 years in prison this week.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Andrew Chappell, during Monday’s hearing, ran four of the sentences for Thomas Dean Jesse, 38, consecutively and the others were run concurrently for a total of 80 years. Jesse was convicted of one count of lascivious acts with a child and 40 counts of second-degree sexual abuse.
Chappell said Jesse must serve 70 percent of three of the sentences before being eligible for parole.
The prosecution recommended 125 years in prison, but the judge has discretion.
Chappell, in his sentencing order, said the four sentences were ran consecutively because he didn’t think concurrent sentences would have been enough time in prison to provide protection for the community. He also said the multiple counts of sex abuse were spread over numerous months and the crimes varied in the nature of their abuse. The judge found each offense is “grievous enough to deserve separate punishment and individual protection for the community and defendant’s victims.”
Jesse also must serve a special sentence of lifetime parole following his prison term because this is sex offense and must comply with sex offender registry requirements for life.
Chappell filed his written verdict last month after Jesse waived his right to trial and opted to have a stipulated trial based on the minutes of testimony — a summary of evidence, including any witness statements.
Jesse was charged in January 2022 after a relative saw his laptop with videos that depicted dozens of acts of Jesse sexually abusing a 5- or 6-year-old boy, according to the verdict. The incidents, involving the same boy, happened on or about July 2020, August 2020, January 2021 and March 1 through October 2021.
The videos were recorded in various rooms of a house, two cars and outdoors. There were 154 videos found, and 124 of those depicted 41 incidents of sexual abuse. An investigator prepared a spreadsheet of the separate incidents and Chappell listed the graphic evidence in his verdict, which he is required to do.
Chappell, in his verdict, said all the evidence is “unrebutted.”
The prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Jesse committed at least 40 sex acts with the victim, based on review of the evidence, Chappell said.
North Liberty man to serve 80 years for sexual abuse of child
A judge sentenced a North Liberty man to 80 years in prison for 41 counts of sex abuse. The state asked for 125 years in prison but the judge ran some of the 25 year sentences concurrently.
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